The Spirit Takes the Fifth ...

[lazyboy97o]

Not if the PRC declared that TWDC's IP was fair game and they would no longer honor TWDC copyright within China. TWDC would be in a world of hurt.

Except that such an action would cause a panic amongst everybody doing and considering doing business with China. The Party leaders are shrewd, not stupid.

 

[Wikkler]

Is the HP2 opening next June? I'd imagine with that opening, plus unis new hotel, that will impact wdw hotel occupancy numbers.

March

 

[tissandtully]

Uh, no. @PhotoDave219 is a professional. He has training, experience and high-end equipment*. PhotoPass photographers are entry-level workers given a couple hours of training and equipment designed to be used 12 - 16 hours a day. You wouldn't call the guy flipping burgers at your Mickey D's a "chef" would you? And I hope you'd laugh if Mickey D's tried to charge you for a burger what, say, California Grill charges for a steak.

* ETA--a lot of in-born talent as well, didn't mean to sell that short

I was only saying $14.95 for unlimited usage and prints isn't that terrible, jesus.

 

[tissandtully]

I know wedding photographers (friends) that charge $7,500-$10,000. Or more.

So while you can continue to look for a deal, you get what you pay for. If you're going to and moan about about the cost of a print, you chose the wrong photographer in the first place.

(For reference, I use AdoramaPix.com for my fulfillment. I usually mark up by at least double)

I don't think you understood my post.

 

[ford91exploder]

I was only saying $14.95 for unlimited usage and prints isn't that terrible, jesus.

$14.95 For a single IMAGE, Universal gives you UNLIMITED images for $40 per year. Such a deal compared to Universal.

 

[tissandtully]

Dude, obviously it's a deal. I wasn't comparing, you're the one who started. I like Uni too, let it go.

 

[ford91exploder]

Except that such an action would cause a panic amongst everybody doing and considering doing business with China. The Party leaders are shrewd, not stupid.

China holds the whip hand here, All China has to say is 'our markets are closed to you' and what about the money you owe us. Whereupon the rest of the US companies will look the other way as China devours the carcass of the offending company. Shrewdness implies guile and the use of brutality when necessary to achieve you goals.

 

[lazyboy97o]

China holds the whip hand here, All China has to say is 'our markets are closed to you' and what about the money you owe us. Whereupon the rest of the US companies will look the other way as China devours the carcass of the offending company. Shrewdness implies guile and the use of brutality when necessary to achieve you goals.

That end could be achieved without ever involving The Walt Disney Company in the first place. Such a stunt has no benefit for the Chinese. It would kill confidence in their economy because other companies would fear loosing their money to similiar action.

 

[RSoxNo1]

Yes, exactly. It's a rip off of their own movie- and a cheap ripoff at that. Sure, pretty scenery... but that only goes so far.

I noticed the AA product placement and thought "uhhh... ok.." and had to re-check to make sure I was watching a Disney movie. Also, I could do without the off-the-shelf, top 40s music. No thank you.



I read the Tony Baxter interview over again yesterday (instead of week by week, I re-read it all at once) and yeah, I'd just about die to see the plans that WDI had for Potter. Even though I'm not a fan of HP, Disney lost a great deal by letting that one slip. Billions of dollars lost, between attendance, hotel occupancy, HP conventions on site, and of course, more merchandise than you can shake your fist at. I wonder what they did have planned out, though. @Lee @WDW1974 has anyone ever actually seen the plans? Any details you can share ?

The report from Jim Hill was a dark ride where guests would activate things using a wand, presumably similar to the Monster's Inc ride in Tokyo. I don't know if it would have used the same ride system (it's the same ride system as TSMM). The other component would have been a care of magical creatures petting zoo. It doesn't sound like the initial plan would have been anywhere near as expansive as Hogsmeade's Village, but I don't know for sure.

 

[the.dreamfinder]

That end could be achieved without ever involving The Walt Disney Company in the first place. Such a stunt has no benefit for the Chinese. It would kill confidence in their economy because other companies would fear loosing their money to similiar action.

When I meant earlier with my comment was PRC could...
demand Disney pay for all future CAPEX at levels determined by Shendi
increase its share of the SDL partnership by 5 to 10 percent thus reducing TWDC profits from the venutre
more SDL exclusive or SDL first rides

 

[the.dreamfinder]

The report from Jim Hill was a dark ride where guests would activate things using a wand, presumably similar to the Monster's Inc ride in Tokyo. I don't know if it would have used the same ride system (it's the same ride system as TSMM). The other component would have been a care of magical creatures petting zoo. It doesn't sound like the initial plan would have been anywhere near as expansive as Hogsmeade's Village, but I don't know for sure.

If you follow ALittleWhistle on Twitter, he said Tony Baxter designed a Harry Potter concept that was never shown to JK/WB.

 

[lazyboy97o]

When I meant earlier with my comment was PRC could...
demand Disney pay for all future CAPEX at levels determined by Shendi
increase its share of the SDL partnership by 5 to 10 percent thus reducing TWDC profits from the venutre
more SDL exclusive or SDL first rides

The Government of Hong Kong already demanded that The Walt Disney Company pay for the recent three land expansion at Hong Kong Disneyland due to the small size of the initial park and that the strategy of adding a few attractions over several years was not going to work (it was the strategy then employed to fix Disney's California Adventure and the Walt Disney Studios Park). An arbitrary change to the terms of the partnership would still be a catastrophic event for the Chinese. That is the vehicle for most foreign investment and would cause just as much of a scare as a total take over.

 

[PhotoDave219]

I don't think you understood my post.

I dont think you understood the can of worms you opened.

 

[englanddg]

Disney Management Sings!

I was told I should post this somewhere a bit more obvious, since I wrote it for the monorail condition thread on a whim. If @WDW1974 thinks this isn't a good home for the final version, I'll gladly remove it. Just let me know!

Otherwise, enjoy!

This parody works best if you start the music below, and then follow along with the lyrics!



(Guest) "Disney World, it's a Magic Kingdom.
Memories, of the days before.
But what you find, are the Disney Managers.
Waking up to say..."

(Myers) "Buy more!"
(Staggs) "Buy more!"
(Crofton) "Buy more!"
(Kalogridis) "Buy more!"
(MacPhee) "Buy more!"

(Guest) There goes the V.P. of Park Op-er-a-tions. He's really busy I can tell!
And he thinks what would be neat, is another meet and greet.
Cause they make those Princess dresses sell so well.

(Staggs) "Good Morning, Guest, where are you off to?"
(Guest) "To Epcot! I just finished the most wonderful story about a Dreamfinder and a dragon and..."
(Staggs) "That's nice." (turns away disinterested) "MEG! The pro-fits! Hurry up!"

(Crofton and Kalogridis) "Look there they go, those Guests don't see the magic, that we have crafted up so well."
(Myers) "They don't like our magic bands."
(Staggs) "But who cares about the fans."
(All of them) "Unless they buy the things we have to sell!"

(MacPhee) "Buy more!"
(Crofton) "To-day!"
(MacPhee) "How is the Starbucks?"

(Crofton) "Buy more!"
(Myers) "Quick pay!"
(Staggs) "It's on your wrist."

(Monorail Driver) "I need, up-keep."
(Kalogridis) "That's too expensive."

(Guest) "There must be bet-ter, may-be up I-Drive?"

(Kalogridis) "Ah, Guest!"
(Guest) "Good Morning! Where is the new ride you promised?!"
(Kalogridis) "But those are rumors, you came already?"
(Guest) "It's the only reason I drove down! Have you got anything new?"
(Kalogridis) "Well, Tangled restrooms?"
(Guest) "That's not right. I'll go to...Uni then"
(Kalogridis) "Universal? But you've been there twice!"
(Guest) "But it's got some favorites. Far off places, daring thrill rides. Magic spells, and it's clean and it's nice!"
(Kalogridis - sarcastic) "Well, if you like it that much, it's yours."
(Guest) "But sir!"
(Kalogridis - sarcastic) "I insist. We can always find others."
(Guest) "Thank you, thank you very much!"

(Senior Park Management) "Look there they go, those Guests are so peculiar."
(Senior Park Management) "We've got a awesome rolling shell!"
(Crofton) "In our copied Mermaid ride,"
(MacPhee) "That's bor-ing and plas-tic inside."
(All management) "What a puzzle to the rest of us, oh well."

(Guest) "Oooooh, isn't this amazing. It's my favorite ride, because you'll see."
(Guest) "Here's where you'll meet Ron Weasley, and you'll even get to pick a wand like Harry P!"

(Crofton) "This makes me wonder if those Guests are silly, they'd think our ticket sales had fell."
(Staggs) "But, they really cannot see, our strong earnings Quarter Three."
(Kalogridis) "Very different from the rest of us..."

(Senior Park Management) "They're nothing like the rest of us, they're different then the rest of us, oh well!"

(A gunshot rings out and a bullet shoots down Iron Man)

(Rasulo) "WOW. You never flub a deal, Bob! Your the best IP hunter in the WORLD!"
(Iger) "I know."
(Rasulo) "No unique concept stands a chance against you! And no WDW fan, for that matter."
(Iger) "It's true, Rasu! But, I've got my sites set on that one (points to DC Comics)"
(Rasulo) "More comic fodder?"
(Iger) "That's the one! The lucky company I'm going to acquire!"
(Rasulo) "But it's..."
(Iger) "The most beautiful concepts around!"
(Rasulo) "I know..."
(Iger) "That makes DC the best! And don't I deserve the best?"
(Rasulo) "Of course, I mean...you do!"

(Iger) "Right from the moment when I be-came Chair-man,
I knew how to make Dis-ney run well.
I'd slash all maintenance, and build time-share units.
And standardize the merchandise we sell."

(Croften) "Look there, he goes, isn't he dreamy."
(MacPhee) "That Bob I-ger. Oh he's so cute!"
(Staggs) "Bestill, my heart. I'm hardly breathing."
(All 3) "He's such a strong and corp-orate minded brute!"

(Kalogridis) "Buy more!"
(Croften) "Quick pay!"
(Guest) "This guest is leaving!"
(Staggs) "Starbucks?"
(MacPhee) "Fastpass?"
(Guest) "Not in your life!"
(Kalogridis) "Restrooms?"
(Croften) "Phone Apps?"
(MacPhee) "A princess restaurant?"

(Guest) "There must be more than this pre-packaged grime!"
(Iger) "With these, we'll make you spend every last diiiiiime!"

(All Management) "Look there they go, that Guest is strange but special."
And with good credit, we can tell!
It's a pity they can't see, all the great things we're doing."
They really are some funny guests. Rich, but quite peculiar guests."

(Iger) "They'll spend it all before we reeeeeeeeeest!"

(All Management) "OH WEEEEELLLLLLL!"

(Myers) "Buy more!"
(Staggs) "Buy more!"
(Crofton) "Buy more!"
(Kalogridis) "Buy more!"
(MacPhee) "Buy more!"
(Iger) "Buy more!"

 

[WDW1974]

I know there's been talk of the 'quiet' reduction of P&R execs, but they are not the only division getting hit of late.

Pixar has lost about five percent of its workforce in the last week or so with the excuse being the pushback of The Good Dinosaur from next year to 2015.

Here's the AP story:

http://www.usatoday.com/story/money...ixar-lays-off-5-percent-of-workforce/3682935/

 

[WDW1974]

Also, hot off the presses, Disney has announced a May 2016 unspooling for Alice in Wonderland 2. The interesting thing there is that one tent pole with Depp pushes another (Pirates 5) even further off (likely spring 2017).

http://www.deadline.com/2013/11/alice-in-wonderland-sequel-release-date-may-2016-johnny-depp/

 

[scout68]

Disney Management Sings!

I was told I should post this somewhere a bit more obvious, since I wrote it for the monorail condition thread on a whim. If @WDW1974 thinks this isn't a good home for the final version, I'll gladly remove it. Just let me know!

Otherwise, enjoy!...

...(Myers) "Buy more!"
(Staggs) "Buy more!"
(Crofton) "Buy more!"
(Kalogridis) "Buy more!"
(MacPhee) "Buy more!"
(Iger) "Buy more!"

F-ing Brilliant !

 

[Californian Elitist]

Also, hot off the presses, Disney has announced a May 2016 unspooling for Alice in Wonderland 2. The interesting thing there is that one tent pole with Depp pushes another (Pirates 5) even further off (likely spring 2017).

http://www.deadline.com/2013/11/alice-in-wonderland-sequel-release-date-may-2016-johnny-depp/

Damn an Alice sequel and yet ANOTHER Pirates. Bring on an Incredibles sequel.

 

[Soarin' Over Pgh]

Also, hot off the presses, Disney has announced a May 2016 unspooling for Alice in Wonderland 2. The interesting thing there is that one tent pole with Depp pushes another (Pirates 5) even further off (likely spring 2017).

http://www.deadline.com/2013/11/alice-in-wonderland-sequel-release-date-may-2016-johnny-depp/

Wow two sequels I couldn't fathom caring any less about both starring a guy I'm totally sick of seeing because he's the same guy in every film for the part 15 years.

Brilliant. They can keep both.

 

[the.dreamfinder]

Damn an Alice sequel and yet ANOTHER Pirates. Bring on an Incredibles sequel.

No, let's leave an IP unscathed once in a while.